The germs of which disease paved the way for Europe's conquest of America in the later half of the sixteenth…

Question

The germs of which disease paved the way for Europe's conquest of America in the later half of the sixteenth century?

Accepted Answer

## Model Answer **Answer: B – Smallpox** The germs of **smallpox** paved the way for Europe's conquest of America. Native Americans had no immunity against it; it spread rapidly, killing entire communities, making conquest easier for the Spanish. *Source: Chapter 3, Section 1.3 – Conquest, Disease and Trade* --- ## Explanation The passage explicitly states: *"the most powerful weapon of the Spanish conquerors was not a conventional military weapon at all. It was the germs such as those of smallpox."* Smallpox killed whole communities before Europeans even arrived, directly enabling conquest. Examiners expect the correct option (B) and may award the mark only for that — no partial marks in MCQs.

Social Science (087) — CBSE Class 10 board question